Tomorrow, the House will have the opportunity to take one of the most important votes for fiscal responsibility in a long time—and I want to thank my Blue Dog friends for working so long to make it possible.

I rise to support this bill, which permanently extends estate tax relief to American families—and which strikes a fair balance between what we owe to families, farmers, and small businesses, and what we owe to our country’s fiscal future.

Every day, we and our families live under the blanket of protection provided by America’s firefighters—men and women who are willing to risk their lives to safeguard us, our loved ones, and our property.

On his arrival in the Senate, Edward Brooke tells us in his autobiography, the same Senators who spoke out so forcefully for segregation were happy to invite their new colleague into the Senate swimming pool.

Welcome and thank you for joining us today to bring to light the many ways that health reform proposals under discussion in Congress will help small businesses who are today struggling to provide coverage for their employees.